The Foreign Office (FCO) has updated its advice for travel to China following renewed outbreaks of violence in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
In April, a bomb blast in the region’s capital Urumqi City resulted in the death of one person, several other people were injured. This was followed by more fatalities in July when violent rioting along ethnic lines erupted in the city.
The situation was brought under control but, although foreign nationals do not appear to have been targeted, further violence remains possible. British nationals are advised to be aware of heightened ethnic tensions and disruption to travel.
The FCO is also warning that access to the internet, international telephone lines and text messaging is blocked in the region and unlikely to be restored in the short term.
Meanwhile, according to the BBC, swine flu is on the increase in the country.
In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region schools, which were due to reopen September 7, have remained closed because of an outbreak of the virus.